President Michael D Higgins returns to Áras after stint in hospital
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President Michael D Higgins has been discharged from hospital and has returned to work at Áras an Uachtarain.
He returned to his official residence following his release from St James’s Hospital in Dublin.
A spokesman said the president thanked all of the staff at the hospital for the care which he received following his admission last Thursday evening after experiencing a “mild transient weakness”.
Mr Higgins, 82, has a pre-scheduled meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on Friday afternoon.
During his time at St James’s Hospital, President Higgins had a number of tests carried out, with results indicating that there are no serious or long-term concerns for his health, with his medical team expecting him to make a full recovery.
However, they have advised that he cut back on the number of public engagements over the coming weeks, as part of a short period of recuperation.
Despite being in hospital, the President continued to sign pieces of legislation into law, having considered both the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023 and the Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023.
Speaking earlier, Mr Vardakar said he has not been to visit President Higgins in hospital but has been in touch with him by phone and a scheduled meeting with him is set to go ahead on Friday.
He said: “I understand he’ll be discharged soon and I plan to meet him tomorrow in Áras an Uachtaráin and so while he has been unwell he has been fulfilling his constitutional duties and at least as of now, is keen to go ahead with our Article 28 meeting tomorrow at Áras an Uachtaráin, the regular meeting that we have where I update him on affairs of State.
"He shares with me his perspectives on things that are happening so as of now that date is still in the diary and look forward to seeing him tomorrow,” he added.